Desk tray



Dec. 28; 1948. v GLUCKMAN 2,457,364

' DESK TRAY Filed Aug. 28, 1944 2 sheets-sheet 1 llllllllllllllllllllllllI Y I'llIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Patented Dec. 28, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .2,457,364 7 DESKTRAY Maxfield Gluckman, Jackson Heights, N. Y. Application August 28, 19114, Serial No. 551,506

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in desk trays such as are used for holding-papers in a confined and orderly manner. Conventional desk trays serve their useful purpose, but under certain conditions it is necessary to use weights to hold papers in place, especially if there is a wind or air currents from electric fans.

Therefore, the principal object of the present invention is to provide a desk tray improved to the extent of being equipped with paper retaining means.

Another object of the invention is to-provide a desk tray capable of being movedto a position to receive papers, and which upon .being released will act to grip the contained papers to. prevent the same from being blown or accidentally displaced from the tray.

Various other important objects and advantages of the invention shall become apparent from the drawings and the following description.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the walled type of tray. 1

Figure 2 is a top plane view of the structure shown in Figure 1. n

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal section showing how papers can be retained in folded back position.

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a modified open type tray.

Figure 7 is a vertical section taken on line 1-1 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a vertical section similar to that of Figure 7, but modified to show desk attaching means.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view showing modified spring pressure means.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view showing another form of pressure exerting means.

Figure 11 is a further modification of the device.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, numeral 5 denotes a tray having side walls 6-6 and an interrupted front wall 1. The break in the front wall facilitates reaching for, and lifting of papers from the tray, and also permits freedom of access to the tray when folding papers back to a retained position as shown in Figure 5.

@Secured to the under side of the tray 5 are bearings 8 which receive trunnions 9 at the ends of a base bar H] which function-as a fulcrum point. The bar ID is notched at its intermediate portion to interlock with a right angularly disposed base bar ll. Both of the bars Ill and H are provided with felt supporting pads l2. In the present instance, the bearings are shown as inwardly extended notches across which a plate is secured for retaining the trunnions.

The rear end of the base bar II has a tongue I3 which fits into a recess in a clamp block M, the latter also being provided with a felt support pad I5. I

The upper end of the block M has a forwardly projecting abutment l6 overlying the rear edge portion of the tray 5.

At this point it should be noted that the fulcrum point for the tray 5 (bearings 8 and trunnions 9) is toward the rear edge of the tray,

resulting in the forward edge gravitating or overvbalancing to result in the rear edge portion coming into contact with the abutment I6. If any papers are in the trays, these will be held between the tray 5 and the abutment [6. Papers in the tray can be folded back and held in this position by being disposed under the abutment [6, to the end that papers underneath may be read without using a hand to hold the overlying papers.

Figures 6 and 7 show a modification. This form of the invention depicts a tray 5-12 without any side walls, the tray 5-a being supported by bearings 8-a receiving trunnions B-a, the latter being located on the ends of a base bar l0-a interlocked with a base bar H-a. The bar I I a has a tongue and recess connection with a block M-a formed with an abutment Iii-a wedging the rear edge of the tray 5a.

Secured to the rear end portion of the base bar lla is an upstanding strip spring I! bearing against the underside of the rear edge portion of the tray 5--a. This exerts pressure in the tray 5-a, for more firmly clamping papers against the abutment Iii-a, this being especially desirable with this type of tray because of the lack of walls.

In Figure 8 a further form of the device is shown, in which the abutment l6b is in the form of a plate secured to the block I l-b in any approved manner. The plate projects beyond the block and is provided with spaced apertures I8-b cooperable with upstanding pins l8-c. Preferably the paper sheets l8-d will be provided with perforations adapted to register with the pins l8-c. This type of holder is intended for mounting a wall or similar surface A further modification is shown in Figure I:

Here the tray is denoted by reference character 5-d, a base bar by ll--d, a block by |4-d and an abutment on the block by' Iii-ed;

The difierence between the form of the inven; tion shown in Figure 10 and those shown'in'Figures I and 9 is the provision of a block oi'fiexible rubber, such as sponge rubber interposed between the base bar i I--d and the abutment l6,d inplace of a strip spring Flor acoiled springZD. cushioning strip :21 maybe employed. on the under face-of theabutments ,as shown in Figures Qandll). 3 As shown in Figure 1l',-the clamplblock [4' may beltormed integrally with the fulcrum l0 Obvi ously, a tray constructed as above explained obviates the'necessity of employing paper weights to hold papers in des k trays, and in addition oflfers anefiective for-holding papers folded "back in the tray, in order that typists may copy underlying papers conveniently.

It will be apparent that paper sheets may be inserted: while thebottom oi the hand' 'pres'ses thetray downwardly at thesame time.

Iclaim: U f

l. Adesk tray comprising a base having an .abutnient overlyi'ng onelien'd thereof, a fulcrum on the base positioned substantially intermediatelyuo'f the base, a tray device ,rockably supportedQonlsaidZfuIci'um and having a proj ecte'd potash" beneath said abutment, the end of the tray lopposite abutment being of a weight to move the p'rojected portion of' lthe tliay into con- 4;,

t a ct ing engagement-enema abutment.

,2, Aj igsktra'y]comprising a base having an abutment overlying one end; a pivot'rne'ans on 4 the base, a tray device rookably supported on said pivot means, said tray being heavier at the end opposite the abutment, and said tray having a portion disposed beneath said abutment and normally held thereagainst.

3. A desk tray comprising a base consisting of a pair of crossed members, one crossed member projecting above the other to form a fulcrum, a block secured to one end of the other crossed 'mernber, an "abutment on the block overlying the base, an article support rockably mounted on the fulcrum, and having one end disposed beneath the abutment, the opposite end of the support being heavier to hold the first named end of the support against said abutment.

4,. A deski tray comprising a base consisting of .a pa irof crossed members, one crossed member projecting above the other and having a trunnion at the ends thereof, an article support having respective bearings for reception of said trunnions for rockablysupporting said article support, an

uprightblockon'theother of said crossed membrsi having an abutment" overlying an end of said articlesupport'; the end of the article support opposite theiabutnient being heavier to hold the flljSt IlalilQd end of the article support in: engagement with the abutment, but movable therefromnp'on rocking movement of the" article M'AXFIELDGLUCKMAN. REFERENCES error) jll-ie,iollowingreferences are of record in the tile of this patent? M V "UNITED STATES 'PA'IENTS mate Q D ,1

405,596 Petsche' June 13, 1889 531,312. Heysinger Dec. 25, 1894 7563701 nyer Apr. 5,1904 1.135%0961' Er, ks n 2 2 1,668,912 Keays May 8, 1928 2,205,034 ,Dykes June 18, 1940 FOREiGN PATENTS Numbe Country Date 151,062 Great Britain '1920 1655598 -Great Britain -4- 1921 

